Dental operative system

ABSTRACT

A dental operative system includes a plurality of mobile dental chairs for carrying patients along a path past dental treatment stations provided in spaced relation about the path. Dental personnel at each station provide a preplanned phase of dental treatment to a patient transported to the station. Controls are provided to direct the movement of the dental chairs along the path to subsequent stations upon completion of each phase of the treatment.

United States Patent 1 m1 3,757,420 Silverman Sept. 11, 1973 DENTALOPERATIVE SYSTEM Primary Examiner-Robert Peshock [76] Inventor: Ralphl-l. Silverman, 7701 Arcadia, Atmmey Ronald Lapone Morton Grove, lll.60053 [22] Filed: Aug. 25., l97l [57] ABSTRACT ppl- 174,602 A dentaloeratives stem includesa Iuralit ofmobile P y P y dental chairs forcarrying patients along a path past dental treatment stations providedin spaced relation 12?; 3:33. 3431:3313 nbnnnnnn n Dent-n1 pennnnn anennn 581 Field of Search 32/22 a PrePa'med Phase 0f dcma' "eatmcm a Pettient transported to the station Controls are provided [56] ReferencesCited to direct the movement of the dental chairs along the path tosubsequent stations upon completion of each UNITED STATES PATENTS phaseof the treatment.

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INVENTOR 2 RALPH H SILVERMAN XMJ ATT'Y DENTAL OPERATIVE SYSTEMBACKGROUND This invention relates to a dental operative system andmethod for administering dental care to large groups of patients with aminimum of dental personnel.

As the population of the country and the world continues to increase,the demands of the public for proper dental care increase as well.Because the'number of dentists has not increased proportionally with thepopulation, some means must be provided to enable the existing number ofdentists to administer to the public needs with the help of traineddental assistants. Furthermore, because at present the field ofoperative dentistry; i.e., corrective administration to patients fortooth decay, requires from 60-80 percent of the dentists office time, asolution of the problem should be directed first toward reduction of manhours per patient in this area.

Group treatment of patients appears to be an answer to the above problembut'as yet no dental facility or method has been devised to provide forthe adequate and efficient care of many patients on a highlyprofessional basis and at a relatively low cost.

SUMMARY wherein dental patients receive professional care It is stillanother 'objectof the present invention to provide a new and improveddental operative system for accommodating groupsof patients inrelatively quickly and efficiently.

short periods of time and at a relativelylow cost.

It is a further object of the invention to provide'a new andimprovedmethod of treating groupsof dental patients efficiently and effectively.

Briefly, a preferred embodiment of a dental operative system accordingto the invention includes a closed loop path over'which mobile patientcarrying dental chairs are propelled at a slow speed. Several stationswhereat a patient is given treatment are located along the path.Controls at each station enable a dentist or trained assistant totransport the patient in a mobile chair on to the next stationsubsequent to the completion of treatment at that'station. In the eventa patient must be returnedto a preceding station, alternate paths areprovided.

In a preferred arrangement of the dental operative system designedspecifically for the treatment of tooth decay, one or perhaps, twodentists and a plurality of dental auxiliariesor trained assistants areemployed. Subsequent to X-rays, preliminary diagnosis and the.

formulation of a treatment plan, preferably in a-dental center housingthe dental operative system according to the invention, the patientproceeds to the latter. The patient is seated in a mobile dental chainat a first station whereat local anesthetic is administered. Uponcompletion of this procedure, a control at the station is operated tomove the patient in the movable dental chair, to a second station alonga predetermined path.

Upon arrival at station No. II, the chair is stopped automaticallybefore a dentist and auxiliary located thereat. The dentist prepares theteeth having cavities therein by drilling and the like. Thereafter, uponcompletion of the removal of decayed tooth material, the dentistoperates the chair control mechanism to move the patient in the mobilechair to Station No. III. In the event the patient is not sufficientlyanesthetized upon his arrival at station No. II, the mobile chair couldbe returned to station No. I for reanesthetization. This is accomplishedby directing the chair along an alternate return path connecting stationNo. II with station No. I.

Subsequent to the cavity preparation by the dentist and his auxiliary atstation No. II, the patient in the mobile chair is sent on to stationNo. Ill staffed by one am:- iliary or trained dental assistant. Atstation No. III, matrices, cement bases and the like are applied.Subsequent to the latter, the chair is moved on to station No. IVlikewise staffed by one dental assistant. At station No. IV, fillingmaterials and the like are placed into the prepared cavity sites. Fromstation No. IV, the chair and patient are moved to station No. V, alsostaffed by one auxiliary. The matrices-and wedges are removed and thefillings are finished and carved. At this time, the patient may bedismissed or the chair may be returned to the first station and thepatient may be dis missed therefrom.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING A-better understanding of the presentinvention and its organization and construction may be had by referringto the description below in conjunction with the accompanying drawing:

FIG. 1 is a diagramatic representation of a dental operative systemaccording to the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a pictorial representation of a typical dental stationincorporated inthe dental operative system according to the invention. I

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawing in greater detail,wherein like numerals have been employed throughout the various'views todesignate similar parts, there is shown in FIG. 1, a preferredembodiment 10 of a dental operative system according to the invention.

The specific'embodiment 10 has been designed to accommodate dentalpatients requiring dental operative care, i.e., the preparationandtreatment of cavities in the teeth, and as such the description ofthe dental operative system will 'be directed to'the use thereof for thepurpose described. The system, as will be described in greater detailhereinafter, is not restricted to such use, however.

Generally, the dental operative system. 10 comprises a path 12 set outin a predetermined arrangement,

herein shown as an elongated closed loop. A plurality The movable chairarrangement may be similar to a movable car arrangement wherein a carrides along a metallic tape positioned in or on the floor, such as 19(FIG. 2) to transport persons therealong. An electric motor (not shown)mounted in the chair 14 provides the driving force therefor and a sensor22 extending from the chair toward the metallic tape, guides the chairtherealong. The tape is perfectly harmless if touched or stepped on bypersons walking thereover. The control panels, such as 18, including aplurality of control buttons 21, are connected electrically to thesystem for operation thereof to transport patients in respective chairsfrom station to station, each control panel being operable for apredetermined section of the tape.

Other suitable drive arrangements may be used as well, and still fallwithin the scope of the invention. Such other drive arrangements will beobvious to one skilled in the art.

Before entering the dental operative system, the patient is given X-raysto determine the location of cavities, etc., and a preliminary diagnosisis made. The physical location for taking X-rays and workingpreliminarily with the patient can be, for convenience, in a dentalcenter which 'also houses the dental operative system according to theinvention. After preliminary examination and diagnosis, the patient maythen proceed readily to the dental operative system.

In the specific arrangement of the dental operative system 10, fivestations are provided about the closed loop path 12. In practice,patients requiring treatment are seated in the movable chairs at stationNo. I. Thereat, the patients chart is examined and the patient is givenanesthesia, normally in the form of a hypodermic injection of Zylocaineor the like anesthetic. The

administering of anesthesia is performed usually by a licensed dentiststationed thereat. Where permitted, however, the anesthesia could beprovided by an auxiliary or dental assistant.

Subsequent to the administering of anesthesia, the dentist operates aforward control button 21 on the control panel 18 at station No. I topropel the chair with the patient therein about the path 12 in thedirection of arrows 20 to station No. II. Once arriving thereat, thechair stops automatically in the station area.-

A dentist, and, if necessary, an auxiliary are present at station No.II. Hereat the dentist uses the conven tional drilling and the likeequipment to prepare the cavity sites for filling at the subsequentstations. 7

After preparation of the cavity sites has been completed, the dentist orhis assistant'operates the chair controls 21 at station No. II totransport the patient in his chair on to station No. III. In the eventthe patient should arrive at station No. II and the dentist should findthat the local anesthesia administered at station No. I has notsuccessfully deadened the area suffi ciently well to permit drilling,the patient may be rethan proceeding along the normal path 12. Assumingthat the preparation of the cavity sites has been completed properlywithout the need to return the patient to station No. I, the dentist atstation No. II operates the control on the local panel provided thereatto send the patient on to station No. III staffed by a single dentalassistant. At station No. III, normal basing procedure is employed;i.e., matrices, cement bases, wedges and the like are applied to theteeth for reception of the filling materials.

It should be noted that as an option, a pair of return paths 24, 26 maybe located between station No. I and station No. III. The last-mentionedpaths provide a means to return the patient in his dental chair directlyto station No. I (boarding station) and if necessary to return thepatient to station No. III directly also. Normally, however, oncereaching station No. III for the application of basing materials, a needshould not arise to return the patient to the boarding station No. I.

Upon completion at the basing station No. III, the pa tient in hismovable dental chair is transported on to station No. IV staffed by asingle auxiliary. At station No. IV, filling material is placed into theprepared cavity sites. Likewise at station No. IV there may be providedoptional alternate paths 28, 30 to transport the patient back to stationNo. 1 if it becomes necessary and to return the patient to staton No. IVdirectly. Again, however, at this point in the administration oftreatment to the patient, a return trip to station No. I should normallybe unnecessary.

After the dental auxiliary has completed the filling process at stationNo. IV, the chair control is operated to move the patient to the finalstation, station No. V, for finishing. Upon arrival at station No. V,just as at the former stations, the chair comes to a stop automatically.Finishing station No. V is manned by a single dental assistant No. Valso. At station No. V, the matrices and wedges, etc., are removed fromwithin the patients mouth. The fillings which have at this time becomehardened, are carved and polished with appropriate tools and thereafterthe patient is dismissed from the center.

It should be noted that the location of station No. V is shown at twoplaces about the closed path 12. In the event it is desired to dismissthe patients from the area in the dental operative system directlyadjacent the boarding station, then station No. V can be positioned asshown in dotted lines, where added and designated 16c. In this manner,fewer personnel need be employed since a single group of dentalassistants or the like can staff both the patient boarding and dismissalareas.

7 In the event, however, the first location 16c is advantageous, suchas, for example, because of access to an exit, etc., of the dentalcenter in which the system is housed, then station No. V could be placedthereat.

A typical treatment station is illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawing. Inthe figure it can be seen that there is provided a sink and cabinetcombination 32 for storage of materials and dental equipment. At thecavity preparation station No. I there is also included high speeddrilling equipment, etc., for use by the dentist in preparation of thecavity sites. An adjustable movable stool 33 is provided at each of thestations to enable a dentist or assistant to move about the patient fortreatment.

Adjacent the dental equipment cabinet and sink is located the mobiledental chair control panel 18 including electronic equipment andcontrols 21 for controlling the movement of the dental patient carryingchairs.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, chairs of the reclining type are provided sothat a patient is in a relaxed position during transportation andtreatment. The chair includes rollers 34 mounted thereon which carry thechair and patient from station to station. The chair is guided along thepath 12 by means of sensor 22 which senses the electronic guide tape 19along the path. The

' motor drive (not shown) within the base of chair l4 in many otheraspects of dentistry such as, for example,

in administering flouride treatments to large groups of patients, inoral surgery, pedodontics, the application of enamel fissure sealants,laser beam treatments and the like.

It has been estimated that through the use of the dental operativesystem according to the invention, the number of patients administeredto in a single day could rise by 500 percent while still maintaininghigh professional standards and providing the patient with exceptionallygood treatment. 7

The dental operative system eliminates unnecessary walking by thepatient and dentist and generally eliminates inefficiency due to waitingtime for each phase of the treatment as in conventional dental treatmentrooms. Furthermore, with the dental operative system, dental equipmentcan be used at maximum efficiency and the cost of construction of such asystem is minimal. The dental operative system according to theinvention has great potential for use in the armed services whereingreater numbers of persons requiring dental care can be treated on amass basis.

Thus, the dental operative system according to the invention provides arelatively low cost, efficient means for. accommodating groups of dentalpatients in relatively short periods of time while maintaining highprofessional standards.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed, it should be understood that the invention is not limitedthereto since many modifications may be made. It is thereforecontemplated to cover by the present application any and all suchmodifications asfallwithin the true spirit and scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim: I g 1. Apparatus for handling a plurality of dental patients,simultaneously, including in combination: means defining a predeterminedpath,' a plurality of mobile chair means for accommodating the dentalpatients,

each said mobile chair means being movable along said predeterminedpath, means for coupling said mobile chair means to said path forguiding the latter therealong, a plurality of dental treatment stationslocated along said path in spaced relation with respect to each other,each said dentaltreatment station including dental equipment for use inproviding dental treatment to a patient while the patient remains insaid mobile chair means, and control means operatively. coupled to saidplurality of mobile chain means for controlling the movement of thelatter between stations along said path. g

2. Patient handling apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pathcomprises a closed loop passing adjacent said plurality of dentaltreatment'stations, and whereina first one of said stations comprises aboarding area whereat patients are positioned in said mobile chairmeans. i

3. Patient handling apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further includingauxiliary path means connecting said first one of said stations with atleast one other of said stations located about said closed loop path.

4. Patient handling apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said firstone of said stations and the last of said plurality of stations arepositioned adjacent each other along said loop path so that patientsreceiving treatment are admitted and dismissed from said mobile chairmeans substantially at a common area.

5. Patient handling apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said controlmeans include a plurality of electronic control devices coupledelectrically to said mobile chair means, one of said control devicesbeing provided at each of said treatment stations for transporting saidchair means between said station and an adjacent station along saidpath.

6. Patient handling apparatus as claimed in claim 5 further includingelectronic guide means placed along said path, wherein each of saidmobile chair means includes'electronic sensor means coupledelectronically with said guide means for guiding said chair means alongsaid path and electric motor means for driving said chair means alongsaid path, and wherein each of said control devices is coupledelectrically to said chair means for controlling the movement thereofalong said guide path. A I

7. Patient handling apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including at leastthree dental treatment stations spaced along said path, a first one ofsaid stations including means for applying a local anesthetic to adental patient, a second one of said stations adjacent and spaced fromsaid first station including means for removing decayed material fromthe teeth of said patient at cavity sites therein, and a third stationspaced from said second station along said path including means forapplying filling materials to said prepared cavity sites.

8. A method for handling, simultaneously, a plurality of dentalpatients, comprising the steps of: providing a predetermined path havinga plurality of mobile chairs coupled thereto for controlling movementtherealong,

- positioning patients in said mobile chairs at a predetermined locationalong said path, one per chair,.control ling the movement of said chairsto transport said patients along said predetermined path tosuccessivepredetermined ones of a plurality of treatment stations spaced alongsaid path and performing successive steps of a predetermineddentalprocedure on said patients at said predetermined ones of said stations,respectively and subsequent to the performance of the final step of saiddental procedure, returning said patients in said mobile chairs to apredetermined location along said path.

9. A methodfor simultaneously handling a group of dental patients,comprising the steps of: providing a predetermined path having aplurality of movable chairs coupled thereto for controlled movementtherealong, positioning said patients each in one of said chairs at apredetermined location along said path, controlling said chairs to movethe latter in succession along said predetermined path to a firstpredetermined mance of a predetermined step of said dental procedure atone of said other of the plurality of said dental treatment stations,returning said patients successively in said movable chairs to apredetermined location along said path.

1. Apparatus for handling a plurality of dental patients,simultaneously, including in combination: means defining a predeterminedpath, a plurality of mobile chair means for accommodating the dentalpatients, each said mobile chair means being movable along saidpredetermined path, means for coupling said mobile chair means to saidpath for guiding the latter therealong, a plurality of dental treatmentstations located along said path in spaced relation with respect to eachother, each said dental treatment station including dental equipment foruse in providing dental treatment to a patient while the patient remainsin said mobile chair means, and control means operatively coupled tosaid plurality of mobile chain means for controlling the movement of thelatter between stations along said path.
 2. Patient handling apparatusas claimed in claim 1 wherein said path comprises a closed loop passingadjacent said plurality of dental treatment stations, and wherein afirst one of said stations comprises a boarding area whereat patientsare positioned in said mobile chair means.
 3. Patient handling apparatusas claimed in claim 2 further including auxiliary path means connectingsaid first one of said stations with at least one other of said stationslocated about said closed loop path.
 4. Patient handling apparatus asclaimed in claim 2 wherein said first one of said stations and the lastof said plurality of stations are positioned adjacent each other alongsaid loop path so that patients receiving treatment are admitted anddismissed from said mobile chair means substantially at a common area.5. Patient handling apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said controlmeans include a plurality of electronic control devices coupledelectrically to said mobile chair means, one of said control devicesbeing provided at each of said treatment stations for transporting saidchair means between said station and an adjacent station along saidpath.
 6. Patient handling apparatus as claimed in claim 5 furtherincluding electronic guide means placed along said path, wherein each ofsaid mobile chair means includes electronic sensor means coupledelectronically with said guide means for guiding said chair means alongsaid path and electric motor means for driving said chair means alongsaid path, and wherein each of said control devices is coupledelectrically to said chair means for controlling the movement thereofalong said guide path.
 7. Patient handling apparatus as claimed in claim1 including at least three dental treatment stations spaced along saidpath, a first one of said stations including means for applying a localanesthetic to a dental patient, a second one of said stations adjacentand spaced from said first station including means for removing decayedmaterial from the teeth of said patient at cavity sites therein, and athird station spaced from said second station along said path includingmeans for applying filling materials to said prepared cavity sites.
 8. Amethod for handling, simultaneously, a plurality of dental patients,comprising the steps of: providing a predetermined path having aplurality of mobile chairs coupled thereto for controlling mOvementtherealong, positioning patients in said mobile chairs at apredetermined location along said path, one per chair, controlling themovement of said chairs to transport said patients along saidpredetermined path to successive predetermined ones of a plurality oftreatment stations spaced along said path and performing successivesteps of a predetermined dental procedure on said patients at saidpredetermined ones of said stations, respectively and subsequent to theperformance of the final step of said dental procedure, returning saidpatients in said mobile chairs to a predetermined location along saidpath.
 9. A method for simultaneously handling a group of dentalpatients, comprising the steps of: providing a predetermined path havinga plurality of movable chairs coupled thereto for controlled movementtherealong, positioning said patients each in one of said chairs at apredetermined location along said path, controlling said chairs to movethe latter in succession along said predetermined path to a firstpredetermined one of a plurality of treatment stations, stopping saidchairs as they arrive at said first predetermined one of said treatmentstations for a predetermined period of time, performing a first step ofa predetermined dental procedure on said patients during saidpredetermined time periods, controlling said chairs to move the lattersuccessively to other ones of said plurality of said treatment stations,performing additional steps of said dental procedure at saidlast-mentioned other treatment stations, respectively and subsequent tothe performance of a predetermined step of said dental procedure at oneof said other of the plurality of said dental treatment stations,returning said patients successively in said movable chairs to apredetermined location along said path.